With the rapidly industrialization, the lack of fossil fuels and the environment pollution have become two big problems around the world. The widespread application of renewable energy and saving fossil energy are believed to be important strategies of the governments around the world to maintain sustainable development of the society.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFCs), is one of the most prospective alternative renewable energy generators for mobile and stationary application due to their high conversion efficiency from chemical energy to electric energy and near zero harmful emissions. However, the cost, durability and operation flexibility of PEMFCs still remain the hurdles to its commercialization and should be greatly improved to promote the practical application of this technology. Therefore, the development of high-performance key materials of PEMFCs, e.g. electro-catalysts, proton exchange membranes (PEMs), is critically required.
Platinum (Pt) supported on carbon has been regarded as the most active catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the ultimate applications of PEMFCs are hindered, at least partially, due to the high price of the Pt and the limited resource. Moreover, the common used Pt/C catalyst is apt to agglomerate and dissolve under high voltage and acid environment. This will decrease the catalyst activity and the durability of the fuel cells. Thus, development of low-cost non-platinum catalysts with high activity and stability is critical for the PEMFCs.
Here I will present the research progress in my group of low-platinum and non-platinum electrocatalysts capable of combining high activity and high stability.